Arriva Trains Northern today announced it is set to restore the vast majority of its train services across the north of England.

Arriva Trains Northern today announced it is set to restore the vast majority of its train services across the north of England.

But two days of strikes still loom on March 1 and 2 after the conductors' pay talks broke down yesterday.

The Rail Maritime and Transport Union and Arriva are hopeful of getting together again over the dispute in which the RMT is seeking 3.5pc plus £1,000 to match new money given to drivers.

The company is offering 8pc but 5pc of this is attached to extra productivity.

The train operator, which introduced a temporary timetable on October 29 while it worked to address inherited driver shortages, predicts it will run 97pc of its original timetable services from Monday, February 25.

Arriva says the timetable restorations are down to its long-term programme to recruit and train new drivers.

Ray Price, managing director, said: "With more drivers completing their 12 month training programme we have been able to meet our target date and keep our promise to restore the vast majority of services for our customers by the end of February."